Rapunzel: The One With All the Hair Read online

  I drop the reins and hold on tight to his neck. I close my eyes and Snowflake takes off at a gallop. Hours pass. I spend the time imagining that Rapunzel returned to her family this morning and has forgotten all about the prince who let her down. The forest seems so quiet, but I know that is because of my damaged ears. Snowflake stops for water and I join him at the brook. I splash some on my face and neck. Nothing looks familiar, but then again, everything is a blur, anyway. I have to trust that Snowflake knows what he’s doing. What choice do I have?

  DUSK

  Although the sun has not fully set, there is no light left in the forest. Surely we should have been back at the castle by now. My ears have cleared considerably and the croaking of the bullfrogs has joined the howling of the wolves. I might as well have died from the fall, since the wolves will soon be upon us.

  We trudge ever onward, farther into the forest. I am about to reconsider the wisdom of letting the horse lead the way when I hear something that does not sound like either croaking or howling. It almost sounds like a ditty I once heard when Father took me to an alehouse with some of the barons. I listen as hard as I can. The sound is getting closer. It is definitely that song!

  Oh, she was a lovely lass, don’t ya know,

  With a round plump face and a rosy glow,

  And wherever she went the gents went, too,

  For she always said, why marry one when you can marry a few?

  Rapunzel! I would recognize that voice anywhere! But how could she be here, in the middle of nowhere?

  “Rapunzel!” I call out. “Can you hear me?”

  The song stops. “Prince Benjamin? Is it truly you?”

  “Where are you? I cannot see anything.”

  “I am in a ring of tall bushes. Do you see them?”

  “The witch broke my glasses. I can see nothing.”

  She doesn’t respond for a moment. When she does, there is a catch in her voice. “She found you, then. I am so sorry. It was my mistake that led to all this.”

  I continue to let Snowflake lead the way. He must have been drawn by Rapunzel’s voice this whole time. We were never headed toward the castle at all. With more confidence than I feel, I proclaim, “Fret no more, Lady Rapunzel, for I am here to rescue you. Again. But I mean it this time.”

  She laughs. It sounds like music. I really AM getting soft, as Elkin said!

  “I see you!” she says excitedly. “I can see your head above the bushes. I cannot come to you, because the bushes are full of prickles and we can’t risk drawing blood.”

  “I shall toss my cloak over to you. If you lay it over the lowest bush, would that cushion your climb well enough?”

  “I think so!” Rapunzel says. “Have Snowflake move a few feet to his left.”

  I follow her instruction and then toss the cloak up to the top of the bush. It takes a few tries before it does not simply fall back on my head. “Do you have it?” I call out.

  “Yes!” she replies. “I’ve got the end of it.”

  “Start climbing,” I tell her. “I shall hold on to the end that is hanging over on my side so that it doesn’t slip out from under you.” I find the ends fairly easily, with only a puncture or two to speak of. Then I dismount and stand at Snowflake’s side.

  “When you reach the top of the bush, you can slide down the cloak and Snowflake will be right there.”

  “I’m on the top,” she says gleefully. “I see you and Snowflake now.”

  “Be careful,” I warn her. “Go slow so you don’t fall through.”

  A minute later she has landed in the saddle with a quiet plop. She hugs the horse’s neck and then jumps down and hugs me. A girl is hugging me! What can a boy do besides hug her back?

  She pulls away. “I have something for you,” she says. “Hold out your hand.”

  I do as she says. Is she going to give me a berry? That would be nice and refreshing, but we really should be hurrying back. I can only imagine the insanity at the castle right now. But she doesn’t give me a berry. She places a pair of glasses in my hands. MY glasses! I put them on my face, and the world suddenly comes into focus. I can see by the moonlight all the things Rapunzel was describing.

  “Where? How? When?” I stumble over my words.

  She laughs. “You left them in the tower on your first visit after you, er, fell and they broke. I had them tied around my neck like a necklace so the witch wouldn’t see them. I bent the stems back into place for you. At the rate you break your glasses, you should have a spectacle maker on the castle premises full time!”

  Now it is my turn to hug her. “You are so right! I shall appoint an official spectacle maker as soon as we return. I know just the one!” I could singlehandedly keep Other Benjamin’s father in business year-round! I am certainly old enough to appoint officials now. I could have simply done that in the first place. Of course, then I would not have wound up on the treasure hunt, and I would not have rescued Rapunzel.

  Or has she rescued me?

  A weary Snowflake finally leads us out of the woods. In the distance I see a huge castle. It is blazing with lights. It looks more like midday here than midnight. To get to the castle, we have to pass across a huge lawn. A group of men on horseback are gathered in a circle. One of them catches sight of us and gallops over at top speed. As he gets closer, I see he has a crown on his head. I know I’m supposed to bow to a king, but can one do that on a horse?

  “Benjamin!” he says in a booming voice full of love. “Rapunzel! Thank goodness you are both safe!”

  Did he just say my name? I lean forward in the saddle and whisper, “How does he know my name?”

  Benjamin shakes his head. “I have no idea, I swear.”

  The king alights from his horse, and we dismount as well. He gives the prince a long hug to the point where I doubt the boy can breathe. A woman comes running across the lawn, holding up the ends of her long dress, and practically throws herself at him as well, sobbing. The prince’s face reddens and he finally disentangles himself.

  “Mum, Father, this is my friend Rapunzel. She was trapped in a —”

  “In a tower,” his mother finishes. “Yes, yes, we know all about it.”

  “But how?” the prince asks. “The only people who knew about her were …” he trails off. “Right. I should have known. Elkin!”

  “Do not blame him, son,” his father says. “When you did not return, he went to look for you. When he saw your markings and found the tower abandoned and a screaming witch inside, he hurried back to alert us. Between Andrew and him, we learned the whole story. Elkin led the castle guards back there and boarded up the place for good — with the witch inside. She will never bewitch anyone again.”

  “You trapped the witch in the tower?” I ask the prince in awe. “You are truly brilliant.”

  He blushes again and kicks up a little dirt with his toe. “It was an accident, really. Just some good luck for a change.”

  I have embarrassed him with my compliment, but his mother beams and turns to give me a closer look. “You must be exhausted, child. Come to the castle and let us fix you a warm meal. We have sent a courier to your parents’ house. He will bring them back here in the morning.”

  I am too happy for words right now. I let her lead me through the castle gate and into the Great Hall, where a huge feast is hurriedly being laid. Word of our return must have traveled fast. I see roast pheasant and turnips and a pig glazed with honey. My mouth waters.

  Two boys around the prince’s age come bounding into the room and throw their arms around him. The red-haired one I know to be Elkin, and I figure the other can be no other than Andrew the page. When they are done with the hugging and merrymaking, Andrew comes over to me and, bowing slightly, says, “I believe this is yours, Lady Rapunzel.” He steps aside and I see Sir Kitty behind him, happily chasing a mouse. I was about to tell him I am not of noble blood and therefore do not deserve the title of lady, but I am too happy to see Sir Kitty. I sweep her up into my arms and twirl around si